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View Full Version : One of The Deadliest Days In Military History



Conley
09-07-2011, 11:26 AM
Today is the anniversary:

The Battle of Borodino (Russian: Бородинское сражение, Borodinskoe srazhenie; French: Bataille de la Moskova), fought on September 7, 1812,[7] was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties. The French Grande Armée under Emperor Napoleon I attacked the Imperial Russian Army of General Mikhail Kutuzov near the village of Borodino, west of the town of Mozhaysk, and eventually captured the main positions on the battlefield, but failed to destroy the Russian army. About a third of Napoleon's soldiers were killed or wounded; Russian losses, while heavier, could be replaced, since large forces of militia were already with the Russian Army and replacement depots which were close by had already been gathering and training troops.

The battle itself ended with the Russian Army out of position. The state of exhaustion of the French forces and lack of information on the Russian Army's condition led Napoleon to remain on the battlefield with his army instead of the forced pursuit that had marked other campaigns that he had conducted in the past.[8] The entirety of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, however, was still available to his disposition and in refusing to implement it he lost his singular chance to destroy the Russian army.[9] The battle at Borodino was a pivotal point in the campaign, as it was the last offensive action fought by Napoleon in Russia. By withdrawing, the Russian army preserved its combat strength, eventually allowing it to force Napoleon out of the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Borodino

Historian Gwynne Dyer compared the carnage at Borodino to "a fully-loaded 747 crashing, with no survivors, every 5 minutes for eight hours."[78]

Mister D
09-07-2011, 11:53 AM
I've been somewhat famialir with Borodino since I was a kid. There was also a pivotal; engagement there in 1941. It's on the road to Moscow.

Conley
09-07-2011, 11:59 AM
I've been somewhat famialir with Borodino since I was a kid. There was also a pivotal; engagement there in 1941. It's on the road to Moscow.


It is interesting that if that article is correct, the entire war hinged on Napoleon's decision to not pursue which was his typical M.O. If I had the time these are the stories I would love to read more about. I should make the time one of these days.

Mister D
09-07-2011, 12:02 PM
I've been somewhat famialir with Borodino since I was a kid. There was also a pivotal; engagement there in 1941. It's on the road to Moscow.


It is interesting that if that article is correct, the entire war hinged on Napoleon's decision to not pursue which was his typical M.O. If I had the time these are the stories I would love to read more about. I should make the time one of these days.


A lot of historians the invasion was a dangerous gamble in the first place. Disaese took a very heavy toll on the Grand Army and the disaster in Russia ended the French First Empire. It took several years but it all unraveled after that.

Conley
09-07-2011, 03:06 PM
Yep, that Russian winter didn't do him any favors. If he could have struck more quickly, who knows?

Mister D
09-07-2011, 03:09 PM
Yep, that Russian winter didn't do him any favors. If he could have struck more quickly, who knows?


I'd have to review when the French and allied army left Poland. I don't remember but Hitler also delayed his invasion. It started on 6/22 due to problems on Germany's southern flank in the Balkans.

Mister D
09-07-2011, 03:15 PM
The campaign began on 24 June 1812, when Napoleon's forces crossed the river Neman.

As per Wiki.

That's pretty damn late in the campaign season. It's also eerily close to the German invasion date.

Conley
09-07-2011, 03:17 PM
Yep, way too late. It is amazing how the Russians could just replace bodies as well. Tough bastards.

Mister D
09-07-2011, 03:31 PM
Makes me feel like getting my new PC sooner rather than later.

Conley
09-07-2011, 03:44 PM
Start the campaign! To arms!

Mister D
09-07-2011, 03:49 PM
Start the campaign! To arms!


I'm sure there are some cool new games out.